Fresh Lavendar Fig Jam Recipes

Steps:

• Mix sugar and figs together in a large glass or plastic bowl; set aside for sugar to slightly dissolve, stirring occasionally, about 15 minutes.
• Stir lemon juice and pectin together in a glass or plastic bowl. Stir lemon juice mixture into fig mixture until sugar is fully dissolved. Pour fig mixture into sterilized plastic canning containers, leaving 1/4 inch at the top. Cover containers and refrigerate or freeze.

Steps:

• In a food processor place sugar, lavender, and ginger process to make the ginger and lavender into bits. The sugar will become somewhat powdered. Place into a large heavy bottom pot.
• Place the figs and lemon juice and zest into the processor and pulse 5 to 6 times just to a coarse chop. Add to pot with sugar.
• Heating to a slow boil then raise heat to a fast rolling boil for 15 minutes stirring most the time. At this point you`ll see the juice turn vibrant dark red and it is pretty syrupy. Add the pine nuts.
• Spoon into sterilized jars.
• Process for 10 minutes in a hot water bath.

Steps:

• In a large bowl, toss together chopped figs and half the sugar. Cover bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour.
• Transfer figs and sugar to a small stainless or enameled saucepan. (The pan should not be more than twice the volume of the fruit and sugar mixture.) Over medium heat, bring to a boil, stirring with a heatproof rubber spatula. When mixture comes to a boil, scrape back into bowl and cover with plastic. Let cool, then refrigerate overnight.
• Scrape fig mixture back into the saucepan. Have a skimmer and a bowl of water handy. Place a small plate in the refrigerator. Bring fruit back to a boil over medium heat, stirring. When mixture comes to a boil, stir in remaining sugar, the lemon juice and the balsamic vinegar. Boil, stirring, until mixture is thick but not too concentrated, 10 to 15 minutes. Skim off any foam that rises, dipping the skimmer into the bowl of water to remove the foam.
• To test for doneness, remove plate from refrigerator and place a spoonful of the jam on it. Wait about 20 seconds and tilt the plate. The jam should only run slightly, and slowly. Boil a little longer if it seems too runny, but take care not to cook it until too thick. It needs to be spreadable.
• Transfer to a bowl or a sterilized jar. Cover and let cool, then refrigerate.

Steps:

• Place figs in pot and add the sugar, lemon juice, lemon zest, cinnamon and salt.
• Combine ingredients and begin mashing them using a potato masher or fork. They should mash quite easily if they are ripe. (You can also use a blender) Leaving little chunks is nice to give the jam more interest.
• Turn heat to medium high and bring to a strong simmer. Stir occasionally.
• Cover the pot and turn the heat down so that the fig mixture simmers steadily for 1 hour.
• Give the mixture an occasional stir and make sure it does not burn or scorch. This is especially important in the last 1/2 hour. You'll see it begin to thicken.
• After an hour, remove the cover and cook for another 5-10 minutes or until the jam is thick.
• Cool completely - it will continue to thicken as it cools.
• Fill your containers and freeze the ones you want to use later.

Steps:

• Place the figs in a large pot or a Dutch oven and add the water. Cover and bring to a boil over medium-high heat, then decrease the heat to medium-low to maintain a gentle simmer. Cook until the figs are completely soft and tender, about 15 minutes.
• In a food processor fitted with the metal blade or in a blender, purée the figs and their cooking liquid (if using a blender, don't fill the jar more than halfway, as the hot liquid might burst through the top when the blender is turned on). Or, pass the figs through a food mill.
• Return the purée to the pot. Stir in the sugar and lemon juice. Cook over medium heat until thickened, stirring constantly to prevent the mixture from burning on the bottom, until the jam is thick appears slightly jelled. (Because figs are low in pectin, the wrinkle test, page 256, won't work with this jam.)
• Ladle the jam into clean jars. Cover tightly, let cool, and refrigerate.
• Storage
• The jam will keep for at least 6 months in the refrigerator.
• Variation
• Before ladling into jars, stir in 1/2 cup (80 g) coarsely chopped Soft-Candied Citrus Peel (page 253) made with lemons.